TO-DAY'S MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 121, 28 November 1928, Page 12

TO-DAY'S MEETING

CONFIDENCE IN MR. COATES DOMINION'S INTERESTS The members of the Reform Party met in caucus in Parliament House today. . Twenty-seven members out of the 29 members of the party were prcsont, and apologies were received from Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton), who is away judging at a show, and from Mr. Tau Henare (Northern Maori), who was unable to mako a train connection in timo to be present. In addition to the Parliamentary representatives, the Hon. T. S. Weston', the Hon. G. J. Anderson, tho Hon. A. D. M'Leod, and, Mr. F. E. Hockly were present. The following resolution was passed: We, the members of the Reform Party in Parliament, affirm our continued confidence iv the Right Hon. J. G. Coates as, leader of. the party, and our determination to stand loyally with him in whatever course . .the exigencies of the present' political situation may render necessary in the interests of the Dominion as a whole, which tho party, as in the past, places before all other considerations;" Tho, caucus is meeting again this afternoon. The caucus is giving the closest attention to the political position, and the question of the Speakership of the House of Representatives. The general opinion seems to be that tho party -should support the reappointment of the Hon.- Sir .'Charles Statham. v Up to the time of writing, however, no decision has been reached on this point, nor in respect to the attitude which is to be adopted in the event of the United Party, assuming office. Some members appear to be of tho opinion that it would be better to follow a course which would obviate a precipitate appeal to tho country, and that it would be advisable to see how the new Administration—if there should be one — shapes before committing the party to any particular step. The opinion is 'that Mr. J. Bitchencr (Waitaki) will be appointed Chief Whip of the party in succession to Mr. J. S. Dickson, who was defeated at the polling. Nothing has been decided yet in regard to the Junior Whipship. Somo North Island member will probably be appointed as Mr. Bitchener's assistant, and the choice appears to lie between Mr. A. M. Samuel (Thames) and Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston), or Sir George Hunter (Waipawa). So far as the general political situation is concerned, chief importance •would appear to attach to next week's caucus of the Labour Party, for much ■will depend on how the Labour members ovte as to what the immediate political future will be. Some observers are hazarding at the Labour Party declining to vote on a no-confidence amendment moved, by Sir .Toseph Ward, but trying to force the issue on an amendment moved by Mr. Holland. It is anticipated that Mr. Holland will be re-elected leader of the Parliamentary party. Others go the length of behoving that' rather than vote with Sir Joseph Ward the Labour Party might prefer to keep Mr. Coates in office, but declarations on the hustings would appear to rule out that possibility. Both the Labour and' the Reform Parties aTC reported to be deploring that they did not contest more scats at the General Election, and now the issue appears to be- "Who is prepared to force another election at an early date." From this point of view much interest attaches to the Labour caucus next week: